Waterstones to open at Marshall’s Yard, bringing new jobs and a major national brand to Gainsborough

Waterstones to open at Marshall’s Yard, bringing new jobs and a major national brand to Gainsborough

2 February 2026

Marshall’s Yard, the award-winning retail and leisure destination in Gainsborough, will welcome the leading bookseller Waterstones to its line-up early this spring.

The new Waterstones bookshop will occupy a prominent 5,123 sq. ft. unit at the centre, marking a significant new addition to the centre. 

The arrival will create new jobs locally and further strengthen Marshall’s Yard’s offer with a well-loved national brand, bringing something new and highly anticipated to the centre.

Waterstones will join a strong mix of national and independent retailers at Marshall’s Yard, including M&S Simply Food, Next, JYSK, Vision Express, Costa Coffee and Holland & Barrett, alongside a vibrant line-up of independent businesses. 

The new Waterstones store will be located in the former Poundland unit close to Browns Department store, Shoezone and Snap Fitness. 

James Shepherd, Managing Director of Dransfield Properties, which owns Marshall’s Yard, said: “We are delighted to welcome Waterstones to Marshall’s Yard. We already have a successful Waterstones store at our Sanderson Arcade development, and their bookshops bring real character, quality and footfall wherever they open. 

“Their arrival at Marshall’s Yard is a fantastic addition to the line-up and reflects the continued confidence in Gainsborough and the centre.” 

Lee Thompson, Waterstones  Retail Manager for Lincolnshire, says: “We are proud to announce that we will soon be landing in Marshall’s Yard, opening a beautiful new bookshop in the historical town of Gainsborough. Alongside an extensive selection of fiction, children's books and non-fiction, our new shop will also feature games, puzzles, gifts and vinyl. Our bookselling team cannot wait to welcome their customers and help them find their next favourite book or a perfect gift.”

Founded in 1982 by Tim Waterstone, Waterstones set out to transform the British bookselling landscape, placing books back at the heart of cultural life. Today, the bookseller trades from more than  317 locations across the UK, Ireland and Europe, and continues to grow through a programme of new shop openings.

Known for its carefully curated ranges, knowledgeable staff and engaging programme of author events, Waterstones plays a central role in championing both new and established writers.  The recent Rick Stein book signing at Sanderson Arcade in Morpeth attracted hundreds of fans. 

The opening of Waterstones at Marshall’s Yard further reinforces the centre’s position as a key retail and leisure destination for the region, as it approaches its 20th anniversary year in 2027. 

The former tractor works site opened in 2007, it was transformed by Dransfield Properties and Prospect Estates into a thriving retail, office and leisure destination, set within a beautifully restored heritage environment. 

Since opening the centre has earned national recognition as a model for regeneration and heritage-led placemaking, helping to drive further investment and renewal across Gainsborough. 

The centre is managed by Dransfield Properties’ in-house team and last year secured a prestigious Gold Award from East Midlands in Bloom. 

Photograph shows Marshall's Yard and a recent book signing event at a Waterstones store in Morpeth, Northumberland. 

To keep up to date with news and events at Marshalls Yard visit www.marshallsyard.co.uk 

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk